The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1887-06-17

ION dictated as the proper one for tying
bouquets. DR. Murdoch looked on won
deringly as be watched Ruth tie the
huge bow around the tiny stems of the
lilies she had bought In the after
noon. He was about to silently
conclude that this was the latest
absurdity of feminine fashion. when he
caught sight of Leslie's crimson face,
and Ruth demurely mischievous air.
"Will you take my bouquet, pleasep
believe am all ready now" said she,
rendering the ridiculous posy to DIR.
Leslie. Good night, papa, or are you
going to sit up for mep" and the two
people started for the door
Leslie took the flowers and escorted
Miss Murdoch to the carriage. lie
entered after her. and shut the door
with single bang, instead of the half
dozen usually required by livery vchi-
cles.
Miss Murdoch, where are your
rosesPn said he quietly MS the cab rolled
of.
IL took them back TO the florist, and
this is what | got for them, was the
calm answer; and the lilies were held
for a moment in the light from the
carriage lamp, II wanted lilies, and
the quantity would make no difference,
rs every body would know who sent
them" There was a very little sup
pressed triumph in the tone, but
otherwise it was perfectly common
place.
For n moment or two neither spoke;
then DIR. Leslie said slowly: Except
that IL would seem that l have been
lacking in respect to your wishes, the
public modification would matter very
little TO me. wanted TO send you the
lilies. Miss Murdoch, but they asked
twenty dollars for bunch of respect
able size, and this week have 90 make
the last payment of the money bor-
rowed for my education. l have strue-
gled hard to free myself from this debt.
that l might honorably offer you my
love. j ought not to speak of this. but
| had to tell YOU that your slightest
wish was dearer TO me than life-than
all but honor. Why, Miss Murdochl
why. Rutht" in changed tone, for the
girl had burst into passionate tears,
''shall order the cab TO drive homc2'
mo-" sobbed Ruth. I-didn't--
know - about - those ~ debts l.
4 thought you-wcrc m-mean and-Id
-teach-you -a-lesson. | do want
I Toto" but the sentence was lost in
the noise Of the cab, and one seat was
unoceupied the rest of the way.
/ When DIR. Leslie met Ruth at the
( dressing-room door he thought that she
1 was lovclier than ever, in spite of the
/ peculiar appearance of her lashes. The
/ long ribbon had disappeared. and the
4 lilies We're tucked in her belt i'm an art
/ full fashion which did not even family
suggest that there should have been
more of them.
II was beatiiic evening for at least
two of Miss Hammond's guests. aud
when it was over there was another
/ happy half-hour in the library with DR..
Murdoch. Ruth related the story of the
/ lilies, and DIR. Leslie told of his hard boy-
\ hood and his student years. how Ruth
\ had doubled the value of life by asking
Y for half of the modest income which he
( had finally gained. The doctor laughed
over the first story. but was very sober
/ during the second. At the end he
looked at the carpet. and said huskilyt
~ don't know that / can do any
thing" then, with a smile, "Ruthie ha.
taken things into her own hands, as
usual, and - am very glad that you
sound on the question of typhoid"
OF course. after few months, DR.
Murdoch's old sign was taken down.
and a new one, reading Murdoch 4
Leslie. was put in its place; and OF
course. too, when the junior partner
wants 70 please his wife he brings, no;
Elies OF the valley, hut MaIschal Nicls.
&C. +. g., IA DcmoreSt's Magazine.